Bottom-operating coupling.



E. P. KINNE.

BOTTOM OPERATING COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1916.

Patented July 25, 1916.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND P. KINNE, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 'OF JERSEY.

BOTTOM-OPERATING COUPLING.

Application filed February 5, 1916.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, EDMUND P. KINNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottom-Operating Gouplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to car couplers, and has particular reference to a novel lock operating means.

It is desirable in couplers of certain types to provide means for operating the coupler look from the bottom of the coupler instead of from the top.

An object in the present construction is to provide simplified means for lifting the lock from the bottom and at the same time to secure a vertical motion without binding or great friction between the parts. The re sult is secured by pivoting the lock lifter underneath the coupler, connecting a lifting link to the lifter, then connecting a controlling link to the lifting link at a point intermediate the length of the latter, whereby the lifter may be moved by a vertical thrust of the lifting link without the necessity of guiding surfaces on the coupler head for the lifting link, as has heretofore been necessary.

The construction will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car coupler to which my improvement has been applied; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the parts in their normal position, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in the position they will assume when the lock has been lifted.

In the drawings, it will be seen that the coupler 10 is provided with a lock 10 and a knuckle thrower 11 which engages and moves the lock, said knuckle thrower being adapted for vertical movement within the cavity in the coupler head. A lifter 12 is located beneath the lock in the lower portion of the coupler and is provided with an arm 13, pivoted at 14 to a pair of depending lugs 15. A lifting link 16 is pivoted to the lifter at 17, occupying a space within the hollow head of the lifter. The lower end of the lifting link is provided with an eye 18 for engagement with an operating rod.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Serial No. 76,314.

A connecting link 19 is pivoted at one end to the depending lugs 15 at 20, and at the other end to the lifting link 16 by means of the pivot pin 21. The connecting link 19 acts as a stop to limit the downward travel of the lifter.

It will be noted that the lifter may be operated by a direct vertical thrust on the lifting link 16, and, therefore, that there is no tendency of the link to bind, or necessity for guiding the same through an opening. The parts may be strongly built and are not likely to require frequent repair.

Obviously modifications may be made to the construction shown and such modifications as are within the scope of my claims I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a car coupler, the combination of a lock and an oscillating lifter, a lug depending from said coupler and providing a fulcrum for said lifter, a vertical lifting link pivoted to said lifter and a connecting link also fulcrumed on said depending lug and connected to said lifting link at a point intermediate its ends, said lifting link being provided at its free end with means to be engaged by a suitable manipulating device, substantially as described.

2. In a car coupler, the combination of a i 3. In a car coupler, the combination of a lock and an oscillating lifter, a lug depending from said coupler and providing a fulcrum for said lifter, a substantially vertical lifting link pivoted to said lifter and provided with an eye in its free end, and a connecting link also fulcrumed on said coupler and located vertically beneath said lifter and pivotally connected to said lift".

ing link, the length of said lifter and said connecting link being substantially equal, the parts being so arranged that said lifting necting link located Vertically beneath the Y arm of said lifter and of substantially equal length, said connecting link being fulcrumed to said coupler and to said lifting link, whereby said lifting link is caused to occupy a substantially vertical position in all po- 15 sitions of said lifter, substantially as described. I

Signed at Alliance, Ohio, this 31 day of January, A. D. 1916. s

EDhTUND P. KINNE.

Witnesses LAUNA CARLIsLE, BYRON MoCAUsLAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

- Washington, D. C. 

